Implement for smoothing bent tubing



\ 1,647,526 N. c. KENNEY IMPLEMENT FOR SMOOTHING BENT TUBING Filed Nov.9. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 1, 1927.

Z I I a 2 @g Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,526

' N. c. KENNEY IMPLEMENT FOR SMQOTHING BENT TUBING Filed Nov. 9. 19 26 2Sh ets-Sheet 2 v Mym Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES V v 1,647,526 PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS C. KENNEY, F WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO CHASE COM-PANIES, INQ, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT. A CORPORATION.

IMPLEMENT FOR SMOOTHING BENT TUBING.

Application filed November 9, 1926. Serial No. 147,259.

My invention relates to an implement for smoothing bent tubing, theobject being to provide a simple, convenient and eflective tool for thepurpose indicated.

With these ends in view, my invention con-' sists in an implement forsmoothing bent tubing, characterized by the addition to the outer end ofan articulated mandrel of an expansible, spherically contoured head in msuch manner that the head will be automatically contracted on moving themandrel 1n one direction, and conversely expanded by the movement of themandrel in the opposite direction, whereby the said head isautomatically contracted when the implement is inserted into a tube,andautomatically expanded therein on beginning to withdraw it therefrom.

My invention further consists in an implement for smoothing bent tubingcharacterized as above and having certain details of construction aswill be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a tubesmoothing implement embodying myinven tion;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a view thereof in transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the expansible head as expanded;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the im- 35 plement in a tube,preparatory to smoothing thesame;

Fig. 6 is a View corresponding to Fig. 5 but showing the flexiblemandrel portion of the implement in elevation and itsexpansible I headin section and expanded; and

Fig. 7 is a detached view in elevation of the expanding stud.

In carrying out my invention, I employ an articulated or flexiblemandrel of approved construction, consisting, as shown, of a shank 10secured by a pin 11 to one end of a head 12, the opposite end of whichis spherically-contoured, as at 13, to adapt it to enter acorrespondingly-contoured recess or cavity 14 in asubstantially-spherical mandrel-section 15, which, in turn, enters acontoured-socket 16 in a corresponding, substantially-sphericalmandrel-section 17 entering a correspondingly-contoured socket 18 in asubstantially-spherical mandrel-section stud 30 having a stem 19. Thehead 12'and the several mandrelsections 15, 17 and 19 are coupled forarticulation by diametric pins 20, 21, 22 and 23, and correspondinglinks 24 extending between the said pins and housed within the saidmandrel-sections, each of which is provided with a chamber 25 for thepurpose. The particular construction of the mandrel above describedforms no part of my present invention. Of course, it will be understoodthat the number and type of the several articulated mandrel-sections maybe varied as desired. 9

Given such an articulated mandrel as above described, I provide itsouter end with an expansible' head consisting, asshown, of twosubstantially-hemispherical members 26 provided near their ends withcircumferential recesses 27 for the reception of springclips 28 exertina constant effort to contract the said mem ers 26. Each of the saidmembers 26 has, upon its inner face, a semiconical groove 29, togetherforming a tapermg bore fitting over a tapered expanding- 31 entering thechamber 25 of the mandrel-section 19 and bifurcated, as at 32, for thereception of the adjacent link 24 and perforated, as at 33, for thereception of the pin 23, whereby the expansible head is articulated withrespect to the articulated or flexible mandrel. To prevent the members26 from rotating with respect to the said stud 30, each is provided uponits inner face with a keyway 34 respectively receiving the projectingends of a pin 35 passing diametrically through the stud. To limit theoutward movement of the members 26 with respect to the stud 30, I employa washer 36, held in place by a screw 37 entering the outer end of thestud, which'has limited axial movement with respect to the members 26.For varying the expansion of the head, the screw 37 may be adjusted asrequired.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the implement is positioned in a bent tube38.

As ordinarilynsed, my improved implement is inserted into the tuberiorto the bending thereof. The act of lnserting it serves to move itsexpansible head axially inward overthe'conical stud, at which time itstwo members are drawn together by the spring-clips 28, thus reducing theexpansible head to its minimum diameter. Conversely, in withdrawing themandrel from the bent 0 tube, the members 26 of the head will lag be'hind, and the tapered stud 30, moving axially with reference to them,will positively expand them, against the tension of the spring-clips 28,to the diameter required to smooth or iron out any departures of thetube from true circular form in cross-section.

and provided at its outer end with a spherically contoured, expansiblehead automatically contracted on its insertion into a tube andautomatically expanded on beginning to be withdrawn therefrom.

2. An implement for smoothing bent tubes, consisting of an articulatedmandrel comprising a plurality of spherically-contouredrelatively-movable mandrel-sections and provided at its outer end with aspherically-contoured, expansible head automatically contracted on itsinsertion'into a tube and automatically expanded on beginning to bewithdrawn therefrom, the said head consisting of a tapered studlocatedwithin a plurality of spherically-contoured members, and means foryiel-dingly drawing the said members together.

3. An implement for smoothing bent tubes, consisting of an articulatedmandrel provided at its outer end with a substantially-spherical,expansiblehead automatically contracted on its insertion into a tube andautomatically expanded on beginning to be withdrawn therefrom, the saidhead consisting of a tapered stud, spherically-contoured membersyieldingly held in position mamas with respect thereto, and adjustablemeans for limiting the axial movement of the said members with respectto the stud.

4. An implement for smoothing bent tubes, consisting of an articulatedmandrel provided at its outer end with a substantially-spherical,expansible head automatically contracted on its insertion into a tubeand automatically expanded on beginning to bewithdrawn therefrom, thesaid head consisting of atapered stud, a plurality ofspherically-contoured members applied thereto, having their inner facesconformed to the taper thereof,,means for preventing their rotation withrespect thereto, and yielding means for drawing them together.

5. An implement for smoothing bent tubes, consisting of an articulatedmandrel provided at its outer end with a substantially-spherical,expansible head automatically contracted on its insertion into a tubeand automatically expanded on beginning to be withdrawn therefrom, thesaid head consisting of a tapered stud, sphericallycontoured membersapplied thereto, means for normally drawing them together, and anadjusting-screw mounted in the stud for limiting the axial movement ofthe said members with respect to the said stud.

6. An implement for smoothing bent tubes, consisting of an articulatedmandrel provided at its outer end with a substantiallyspherical,expansible head automatically contracted on its insertion into a tubeand automaticallyexpanded on be inning to be withdrawn therefrom, thesald head consisting of a tapered stud, two substantially-hemisphericalmembers having semi-conical grooves in their inner faces for applicationthereto, yielding means for drawing them together thereupon, and meansfor adjusting the relative axial movement of the said members withrespect to the said stud.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this 90 specification.

' NICHOLAS KENNEY.

